Adding Window2008DC to the 2003 Domain

With the release of Windows Server 2008, more and more companies are starting to use it. Sometimes, we have to face this situation, we want to keep the original Windows Server 2003 Active Directory, do not want to rebuild a new forest. Whether this can be achieved and how it is implemented is what the administrators want to know. Today we will focus on how to add Windows Server 2008 domain controllers to Active Directory running Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003.

To achieve this goal, you need to make some changes to the existing Active Directory. First, we must update the existing Active Directory schema. Update the schema from the domain controller that holds the schema operations master role. If you are performing an unattended installation of AD DS for Windows Server 2008, you must update the schema before installing the operating system. For a normal installation, you must update the schema after running setup before installing AD DS. Here's how to complete this step.

To perform this operation, the account used must belong to the following group:

o Enterprise Admins

o Schema Admins

o Domain containing the schema host Domain Admins

Preparing Forest Architecture for Windows Server 2008

1. Log in to the schema host using an account that is a member of Enterprise Admins, Schema Admins, and Domain Admins groups.

2. Insert the Windows Server 2008 DVD into your CD or DVD drive.

3. Click Start, click Command prompt, enter command line mode,

4. Enter the following command and press Enter.

D:\\sources\\adprep\\adprep /forestprep

D: Is the drive letter of the CD or DVD drive (depending on the machine).

5. If you plan to install an RODC to any domain in the forest, enter the following command and press Enter.

D:\\sources\\adprep\\adprep /rodcprep

6. Allow the operation to complete and allow the change to be replicated to the entire forest in a domain that is ready to run Windows Server 2008 for any other domain Before the controller.

After completing the preparation for the forest, you need to prepare for the domain where you want to install the Windows Server 2008 domain controller.

To complete this task, the operator must be a member of the Domain Admins group. It is not enough for the Enterprise Admins group to perform this operation.

1. Use the following method to verify which domain controller the domain's infrastructure master role is located on:

" In Active Directory Users and Computers, right-click on the domain object and select Operate the host and click on the infrastructure.

2. Log in to the infrastructure host using an account that belongs to the Domain Admins group.

3. Insert the Windows Server 2008 DVD into your CD or DVD drive.

4. Click Start, click Command prompt, enter command line mode,

5. Enter the following command, then press Enter.

D:\\sources\\adprep\\adprep /domainprep /gpprep

6. Allow the operation to complete and allow the changes to be replicated throughout the forest when you install a domain controller running Windows Server 2008 prior to.